Somewhat live from the Westerdam

[frankc98376]

All well with FCC. One of the sets of deposits went to an email we aren't checking on board.

 

Since we were already talking to her we decided to put the deposits to work and booked the 5 night coastal from San Diego on NA next year B2B with the first Alaska cruise. I'm betting will be a LOT of CC friends on the ship. We hesitated as they would only accept a guarantee for any cabins on coastal so we did an SC guarantee and blocked a suite for Alaska cruise.

 

Short day in Ketchikan- bad part of the Seattle departures. Got all of our shopping done and watched the runners to the gangway from our balcony. Two almost were left behind.

 

Had a hot dog and fries from Dive In for lunch. They are soooo good.

 

Got our Mariner Brunch invite today. Have seen nothing resembling an invite to VIP party so likely weren't invited this time or there is no party. As I recall is usually on second formal night (tonight). I was told in the past was 4 or 5 star or 3 star if in NS or PS. Who knows- so many changes is hard to keep up with. I know most companies really work hard to keep those that pay rack rate, book far in advance, and only NS.

[cruz chic]

Seems like they are not doing the VIP parties anymore or they are less frequent. I know as a 4 star I've not been invited to some of them.

 

Thx for the update.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We have been 5 star Mariners for quite some time -- in fact when they started the 5 star deal, we were already well pass 500 days.

And we always stay in either the PS or SA and there have been times when we were not invited to the VIP parties.

[dfish]

Enjoy your last day on board, Frank, and thanks for taking us along. We'll be getting on as you get off. So excited!

[frankc98376]

Enjoy your last day on board, Frank, and thanks for taking us along. We'll be getting on as you get off. So excited!

 

You are coming onto a great ship with a great happy crew!

 

We have had a great (albeit too short) cruise and wish we were staying on to sail with you :)

 

A few notables on board I've mentioned before: Clifford in PG- if you are dining in PG make sure to request Clifford as your server- he is the best.

 

Michael- bar steward. Currently in the Pinnacle Lounge early evening. The greatest personality, a real pro, and a total character- always made us smile.

 

Tim- PG Manager: Tim has been great to us- he treats every guest like they are the only ones on board.

 

There are so many I could go on all day but these are the standouts.

 

Have a GREAT cruise and take good care of our ship :D

[Krazy Kruizers]

Can't believe that this cruise is almost over for you.

Do you have a copy of the Mariner's Lunch/Brunch that is held near the end of the cruise?

[frankc98376]

Can't believe that this cruise is almost over for you.

Do you have a copy of the Mariner's Lunch/Brunch that is held near the end of the cruise?

 

Mariner brunch is this morning. I will try to get a menu to scan in when I get home.

[localady]

All well with FCC. One of the sets of deposits went to an email we aren't checking on board.

 

Since we were already talking to her we decided to put the deposits to work and booked the 5 night coastal from San Diego on NA next year B2B with the first Alaska cruise. I'm betting will be a LOT of CC friends on the ship. We hesitated as they would only accept a guarantee for any cabins on coastal so we did an SC guarantee and blocked a suite for Alaska cruise.

 

Short day in Ketchikan- bad part of the Seattle departures. Got all of our shopping done and watched the runners to the gangway from our balcony. Two almost were left behind.

 

Had a hot dog and fries from Dive In for lunch. They are soooo good.

 

Got our Mariner Brunch invite today. Have seen nothing resembling an invite to VIP party so likely weren't invited this time or there is no party. As I recall is usually on second formal night (tonight). I was told in the past was 4 or 5 star or 3 star if in NS or PS. Who knows- so many changes is hard to keep up with. I know most companies really work hard to keep those that pay rack rate, book far in advance, and only NS.

 

We were on board the week before. It was a wonderful cruise btw!:D I received my 300 day silver Medallion. ::cool:

There was no VIP party that I was aware of, and we seem to always get an invite. I am thinking that the VIP party has gone the way of the DooDoo (sp?) Bird!:rolleyes:

[POA1]

Thanks for the reports Frank! Truly appreciated.

[Lizzie68]

You are coming onto a great ship with a great happy crew!

 

We have had a great (albeit too short) cruise and wish we were staying on to sail with you :)

 

A few notables on board I've mentioned before: Clifford in PG- if you are dining in PG make sure to request Clifford as your server- he is the best.

 

Michael- bar steward. Currently in the Pinnacle Lounge early evening. The greatest personality, a real pro, and a total character- always made us smile.

 

Tim- PG Manager: Tim has been great to us- he treats every guest like they are the only ones on board.

 

There are so many I could go on all day but these are the standouts.

 

Have a GREAT cruise and take good care of our ship :D

 

So happy to hear you had a great time - it sure went by fast, though. The Westerdam is a lovely ship with a great crew. After we got back from the repositioning cruise - which we (the Sailaway Gang) all reported as fabulous - it was so odd to read negative reports suddenly, about bad food and service and I couldn't believe this was about the same ship. Your experience has mirrored ours.

[Crew News]

All well with FCC. One of the sets of deposits went to an email we aren't checking on board.

 

Since we were already talking to her we decided to put the deposits to work and booked the 5 night coastal from San Diego on NA next year B2B with the first Alaska cruise. I'm betting will be a LOT of CC friends on the ship. We hesitated as they would only accept a guarantee for any cabins on coastal so we did an SC guarantee and blocked a suite for Alaska cruise.

 

 

We are on the NA for the Coastal and then two weeks in Alaska next year. Glad to see other CC members joining us. I have started Roll Calls for the Coastal as well as the Apr 30 and May 7 cruises. Please join them.

 

We look forward to seeing you in the terminal (don't arrive before 11:00) or on board. Informal Meet & Greet 10:00 AM on Apr 26th.

 

FWIW changing rooms after the Coastal will be a breeze with your Room Stewards assistance just before you leave the ship to process through Canadian Immigration at 10:00 AM.

[frankc98376]

We are on the NA for the Coastal and then two weeks in Alaska next year. Glad to see other CC members joining us. I have started Roll Calls for the Coastal as well as the Apr 30 and May 7 cruises. Please join them.

 

We look forward to seeing you in the terminal (don't arrive before 11:00) or on board. Informal Meet & Greet 10:00 AM on Apr 26th.

 

FWIW changing rooms after the Coastal will be a breeze with your Room Stewards assistance just before you leave the ship to process through Canadian Immigration at 10:00 AM.

 

Last year we walked over to the terminal from the Wyndham at about 10:15 just expecting to drop off our luggage. We were told "go ahead and check in" as I guess there weren't many leaving the ship that day due to continuation of canal. They said embarkation was much more laid back than a ship with full disembark. Unfortunately we ended up sitting until about 1:00 due to code red deep clean.

 

Hoping our PCC can secure our room for both segments later on- she did last year. We were on the cruise that 5190 changed for SC to SB mid cruise so second leg. We currently have an SC guarantee and SC for Alaska. We may bump up to SB and grab an aft wrap though.

 

Looking forward to meeting people I've communicated with on here.

[Crew News]

Last year we walked over to the terminal from the Wyndham at about 10:15 just expecting to drop off our luggage. We were told "go ahead and check in" as I guess there weren't many leaving the ship that day due to continuation of canal. They said embarkation was much more laid back than a ship with full disembark. Unfortunately we ended up sitting until about 1:00 due to code red deep clean.

 

Hoping our PCC can secure our room for both segments later on- she did last year. We were on the cruise that 5190 changed for SC to SB mid cruise so second leg. We currently have an SC guarantee and SC for Alaska. We may bump up to SB and grab an aft wrap though.

 

Looking forward to meeting people I've communicated with on here.

 

This year, access to the terminal was not permitted until the ship was "zeroed" and there were a few "sleep-ins". Our taxi could only drop us off in the parking lot with a pile of luggage quite a distance from the nearest porters. If I remember correctly, we had a bit over 100 in the terminal when boarding began a few minutes before noon. The Neptune Suite reception had only 12 attendees which gave me ample time to arrange chocolate purses and the chocolate bomb desserts.

[frankc98376]

This year, access to the terminal was not permitted until the ship was "zeroed" and there were a few "sleep-ins". Our taxi could only drop us off in the parking lot with a pile of luggage quite a distance from the nearest porters. If I remember correctly, we had a bit over 100 in the terminal when boarding began a few minutes before noon. The Neptune Suite reception had only 12 attendees which gave me ample time to arrange chocolate purses and the chocolate bomb desserts.

 

Suite reception this week on Westerdam was quite different. So different that we missed it. No invitations were sent- the standard welcome aboard letter had a sentence at the bottom about a reception with the Concierges at 7 pm. Another guest that attended said that it was just the Concierges there. They offered a glass of Sparkling wine and had the standard NL appetizers in the cases. He said it was like an opportunity to book dining and shore excursions with the Concierges.

 

We've actually seen very little of the officers on this cruise.

[Lizzie68]

Last year we walked over to the terminal from the Wyndham at about 10:15 just expecting to drop off our luggage. We were told "go ahead and check in" as I guess there weren't many leaving the ship that day due to continuation of canal. They said embarkation was much more laid back than a ship with full disembark. Unfortunately we ended up sitting until about 1:00 due to code red deep clean.

 

Hoping our PCC can secure our room for both segments later on- she did last year. We were on the cruise that 5190 changed for SC to SB mid cruise so second leg. We currently have an SC guarantee and SC for Alaska. We may bump up to SB and grab an aft wrap though.

 

Looking forward to meeting people I've communicated with on here.

 

As it is the 4-day segment of the repositioning cruise, I doubt the ship has to "zero down" - on the Westerdam this year we simply went ashore in San Diego when we were ready, I don't recall any requirement to vacate the ship. I do remember, however, that there was a short delay getting back onboard but can't remember why.

[kazu]

This year, access to the terminal was not permitted until the ship was "zeroed" and there were a few "sleep-ins". Our taxi could only drop us off in the parking lot with a pile of luggage quite a distance from the nearest porters. If I remember correctly, we had a bit over 100 in the terminal when boarding began a few minutes before noon. The Neptune Suite reception had only 12 attendees which gave me ample time to arrange chocolate purses and the chocolate bomb desserts.

 

As it is the 4-day segment of the repositioning cruise, I doubt the ship has to "zero down" - on the Westerdam this year we simply went ashore in San Diego when we were ready, I don't recall any requirement to vacate the ship. I do remember, however, that there was a short delay getting back onboard but can't remember why.

 

maybe it works differently for those that are embarking, but for those of us that were on and stopping at San Diego in April, we could come and go as we pleased and a number stayed on board. I don't recall any zero down requirement at all. But, my memory can be short ;)

 

Some actually went out, made a drug store pit stop, came back and picked up their "better" halves and went out again. No issues at all.

 

DH and I got off in a very leisurely way to explore and meet a CC member for lunch.

Edited September 19, 2015 by kazu

[SilvertoGold]

The delay is common if you return to the ship before the new pax start boarding.

 

We had to be escorted onto the ship when we came back at 11 am.

[Lizzie68]

The delay is common if you return to the ship before the new pax start boarding.

 

We had to be escorted onto the ship when we came back at 11 am.

 

That would be it. My friend and I left the ship to go shopping at the drug store, and then came back and collected the hubbies to go for lunch and pedi-cycle tour.:)

[Krazy Kruizers]

Mariner brunch is this morning. I will try to get a menu to scan in when I get home.

 

 

Thank you

I'll be looking for it when you get home.

[frankc98376]

All settled in at home and getting used to cooking and cleaning again.

 

We knew we had a great time but not how great until I looked at out Mariner points this morning. We were on 7 nights in a NS and ended up with 21 Mariner Nights with our shipboard account :eek:

 

So we were indeed correct- a great time was had by all :D